Reaching Out
In February, the Birmingham Friends of the Earth, at the Warehouse appointed two new Environmental Outreach Workers to initiate new projects on environmental issues throughout Birmingham. Karl Whale and Mark Brookes will be starting a number of new projects, including outreach work with schools to encourage children to start up their own eco-projects and get older children to act as eco-mentors for feeder primary schools, improving education links within local communities.
Mark and Karl will be working towards trialling this scheme before rolling it out to schools across the Birmingham area. Getting children involved in environmental issues and projects will help to achieve a new generation who are more aware of their impact on both the local and global challenges they will face. Starting a good habit is much easier than breaking a bad habit. The children we reach will hopefully continue this interest in later life, and be much more involved in facing the challenges of the future.
Also they will be working towards getting Birmingham to participate in the “Switch It Off” campaigns. These have been so successful over the past four years in Coventry and Warwick. Last year, “The Big Switch Off 2009” managed to produce a 26.9 megawatt drop in peak demand when compared to the same time the previous week. This year, with Birmingham’s involvement, this success could be even bigger and we will be working hard to get the Council, local businesses and households to say no to the little red stand-by light and switch appliances off properly when not in use.
Rhubarb Radio, the internet radio station based in Digbeth’s Custard Factory, are looking for programmes on local issues, and the new Outreach workers will be helping to produce a programme highlighting and promoting the hard work of everyone involved with Birmingham Friends of the Earth, as well as raising awareness of both local and global issues. The format for the show is still pretty open so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, or would like to get on board, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line at the Warehouse or email karl@birminghamfoe.org.uk to let us know your ideas.
